The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-11-24
HOW TO TELL STORIES.
An Accomplishment Possessed by But
E.x


Few Mortals.
In all ages and in all lands the art of
narrating story by word of mouth or
by the ready pen has been practiced.
and a few individuals among the rest
OF mankind have been gifted with this
faculty. which they have exercised in
preparing food for the fancy of their
hearers or readers in fable, epic or the
modern novel. These are akin to the
artist who differs from the mere por-
trait painter. The last named can pro-
duce resemblance which may be per-
feet in light and shade. and even in ex-
preston; but though this may give US
pleasure it does not stir in us the admira-
ton that we award to one who can pro-
duce situation calling forth Our emo
tons. The faculty which can produce
this is much more rarely met with.
A well-told tale is as rare as per-
feet day. 1t is the result of happy in
| fluences, and, like a well-developed
man or woman, requires favorable cir
cumstances for its development. 1t
owes much of its interest to the lam
guage used in telling it and the skill
with which it is illustrated, as in the
plays of Shakespeare. The plots OF
many of these plays are not original.
but the way in which the author has
made, from what were originally but
phantoms, galleries of life-like figures,
is striking proof of its power. A
similar effect is often produced by
writer's of tales.
1t shows great merit in story when
the incidents of it linger in the memory.
''Silas Mariner" by George Eliot, is a
remarkable instance of this quality.
Any one who has read this tale must
have noted the ease with which each
incident may be recalled. even a long
time after it has been read, and this
characteristic seems to result from its
being free from superfluous matter.
from the way in which the main incl
dents are grouped, and from the
beauty and simplicity of the tout
ensemble.
Love and war. with the troubles re-
sulting therefrom. form the materials
of most of the ancient stories, while the
situations of the modern novels are the
results of complicated difficulties incl
dent to a more advanced state of civil
ization. Life abounds in incidents for
the modern tale-writer. There are
many people who confine their gener-
osity to what they consider their own
class, and who spend time and money
in deeds of charity, vet think nothing
of wounding the feelings of those little
beneath them in rank. They are kind
after their own fashion, but would sac
rilice their dear friends rather than lose
an inch of their hard-won social posi-
ton. Such people are common both in
real life and in novels, and when the
story of their doings is well told it ex-
cites in the reader much interest.
To read a good story has a similar
effect to spending few hours in pleas
ant company; it cheers and relieves the
mind; the small troubles that may have
vexed lose their hold upon us, and when
we return to them we are SO refreshed
and invigorated by the action of change
that they weigh but lightly upon us.
Sometimes an incident recalls to our
memories some of the pleasures and
pains of that brief season of early youth
of which we all like to prolong the re-
membrance. Stories from other lands
have great charm for young people
and children. There is for them the
novelty of learning about foreign Gus
toms and seeing that human nature is
alike in its deep experiences under very
different outward ways and manners.
Chambers Journal.